Obama calls for 'long overdue, common-sense gun safety laws' in the wake of the Florida school shooting

Former President Barack Obama tweeted about the Parkland, Florida shooting, c alling for sensible gun control legislation.

His comments echoed the words of other lawmakers like Sen. Chris Murphy.

Former President Barack Obama expressed his condolences to the victims of Wednesday's school shooting in Parkland, Florida on Twitter, and offered some strong words on the need for sensible gun legislation.

"We are grieving with Parkland," Obama tweeted. "But we are not powerless. Caring for our kids is our first job. And until we can honestly say that we're doing enough to keep them safe from harm, including long overdue, common-sense gun safety laws that most Americans want, then we have to change."

Gun safety, and the terrifying consequences of mass shootings, have historically been close to the president's heart. In 2012, following the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, Obama gave a tearful speech and later described the moment as the "worst day of his presidency."

Obama joined other lawmakers who vehemently spoke out about gun legislation in the aftermath of Wednesday's shooting. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, who represented the congressional district in Connecticut that included Newtown at the time of the shooting, made some particularly strong comments on the Senate floor as the shooting was still underway.

"This happens nowhere else other than the United States of America," Murphy said. "This epidemic of mass slaughter — this scourge of school shooting after school shooting. It only happens here not because of coincidence, not because of bad luck, but as a consequence of our inaction."